Multiple pump assembly



Aug. 31, 1965 G. SCHAFRANEK MULTIPLE PUMP ASSEMBLY 2 SheetS Sheet 1Filed May 9, 1963 \L .c :s Ri 65$ 1 I NVENTOR Gusr4v -5'CHAFEfiA/EKATTORNEYJ Aug. 31, 1965 SCHAFRANEK MULTIPLE PUMP ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed May 9, 1963 m T K kw E wk & wk w.A F II A W a m. & a k 5 v .Q MW N% N m wk w mm G ATTORNEYJ United States Patent 3,203,352 MULTIPLEPUMP ASSEMBLY Gustav Schafranek, Leechgasse 56, Graz, Austria Filed May9, 1963, Ser. No. 279,275 Claims priority, application Austria, May 24,1962,

5 Claims. (Cl. 103-87) This invention relates to pumps, and moreparticularly to a multiple pump assembly in which a plurality ofindividual rotary pump units driven from a common shaft are mounted on acommon base, and in which the intake fittings of the pumps are connectedto a common intake conduit, and the discharge fittings are connected toa common discharge conduit.

It is advantageous, both from the standpoint of chi ciency of operation,and from the standpoint of economy to utilize a plurality of rotarypumps of relatively small size in order to provide the desired capacity,rather than to utilize a single large pump or to utilize a pump withmultiple rotors, since the castings of such pumps are relativelycomplex, and costly, and furthermore, a plurality of smaller pumps withindividual discharge outlets connected to a common discharge conduit maybe operated at a higher speed than a single larger pump to provide thedesired volume, and in this manner more eificient and less costly pumpinstallations may be provided. Furthermore, this type of constructionpermits the use of a smaller high speed electric drive motor whichprovides even further economy insofar as the cost of construction isconcerned.

While it might seem that the utilitization of a plurality of individualpump units rather than a single large unit to provide the desired volumemight result in increasing the space requirements, nevertheless, inaccordance with the instant invention there has been provided astructure wherein the individual pump units are mounted on a hollow,common base with the intake and discharge conduits disposed within thebase, thereby materially reducing the space requirements as compared toa structure in which the intake and discharge conduits are mountedexteriorly of the base and pump assembly.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a multiple pumpassembly in which a plurality of individual rotary pump units drivenfrom a common shaft are mounted on a common base, and in which the basealso serves to support the drive motor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a multiple pumpassembly including a plurality of individual rotary pump units mountedon a common base, and in which the intake openings of the pumps areconnected to a common intake conduit, and in which the dischargeopenings are connected to a common discharge conduit.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a multiplepump assembly in which a plurality of individual rotary pump units aremounted on a common hollow base, and in which a common intake conduit isdisconduit being provided with a coupling disposed adjacent one end ofthe base, and the discharge conduit being provided with a couplingfacing in the opposite direction and disposed at one side of the base.

Patented Aug. 31, 1965 A further object of the invention is theprovision of a multiple pump assembly, including a pair of pump units,each unit comprising a plurality of individual rotary pumps driven froma common shaft, such pump units being supported on a common base andwith a shaft bearing and coupling between the pump units.

A still fulther object of the invention is the provision of a multiplepump assembly in which a pair of pump units are provided, each unitcomprising a plurality of individual rotary pums driven by a commonshaft, such pump units being disposed in spaced relationship on a commonbase, and with a drive motor having a doubleended shaft disposed betweenthe pump units and connected to the drive shaft of each unit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a multiple pumpassembly in which two pairs of pump units are provided, each unitcomprising a plurality of individual rotary pumps, driven by a commonshaft, the units in each pair being separated and mounted on a commonbase, and with the drive shafts connected by a coupling and supportingbearing, and with a drive motor having a double-ended shaft disposedbetween the inner units of each pair and connected to the drive shaftsthereof.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a plurality of individualpumps providing a pump unit mounted on a common base, together with adrive motor mounted on such base, and with intake and discharge conduitsdisposed within the base;

FIG. 2 a top plan view 'of the pump assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, an end elevational view of the pump assembly shown in FIG. 1,and showing the disposition of the couplings on the intake and dischargeconduits;

FIG. 4, a fragmentary sectional view showing two of the pumps utilizedin the pump unit of FIG. 1, and also showing the manner of mounting suchpumps on the common base, and the mannerot connecting the intake anddischarge openings to the intake and discharge conduits;

FIG. 5, a top plan view showing a modified form of the invention inwhich two pump units coupled together are mounted on a common base, andin which a drive motor is also mounted on the base and connected to thedrive shaft of one of the units;

FIG. 6, a top plan view similar to FIG. 5, but showing a furthermodified form 'of the invention, in which a drive motor having adouble-ended shaft is disposed between the pump units and coupledthereto; and,

FIG. 7, a top plan view showing a still further modified form of theinvention, which in effect combines the forms shown in FIGS. 5 and 6with a single drive motor having a double-ended shaft driving two pairsof pump units disposed on opposite sides of the motor.

With continued reference to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1 to 4,there is shown a multiple pump as sembly constructed in accordance withthis invention, and in which there is provided a hollow, elongated base10 which may be constructed as a casting or may be fabricated from metalplates or other suitable structural elements, the base 10 having sidewalls 11 and 12, end Walls 13 and 14, and a top wall 15. A plurality ofintake openings 16 are provided in the top wall 15 of the base 10, andin a similar manner a plurality of discharge openings, not shown, areprovided in the top wall 15.

A plurality of individual rotary pumps 17 are mounted on the top plate15 of the base 10, and as best shown in FIG. 4, each pump 17 includes acasing 18 with a rotor 19 disposed therein, the rotors in all of thepumps 17 being fixed to a common drive shaft 26. The casing 18 of eachpump is provided with an intake fitting 21 which is secured to the topwall 15 of the base 16 in communication with the intake opening 16 inthe top wall 15, and also each casing 18 is provided with a dischargefitting 22 secured to the top wall 15 of the base and communicating withthe discharge opening provided in the top wall 15.

An intake conduit 23 is disposed within the base 10, and communicateswith all of the intake openings 16 in the top wall of the base 10. Theintake conduit 23 may be provided with a coupling 24 disposedexterioraly of the end wall 13 of the base 10, and serves to couple theintake conduit 23 to an intake pipe. In a similar manner a commondischarge conduit 25 is disposed in the base 10, and such dischargeconduit is connected to all of the discharge openings provided in thetop wall 15 of the base 10. The discharge conduit 25 is provided wth acoupling 26 disposed eXteriorly of the side wall 12 of the base 10, andfacing generally in a direction opposite to that of the coupling 24 onthe intake conduit 23. The coupling 26 serves to connect the dischargeconduit 25 to a suitable discharge pipe.

A common drive motor 26 is mounted on the top wall 15 of the base 10,and the drive shaft 27 of the motor 26' is connected by a coupling 28 tothe common drive shaft 20 of the individual pumps 17.

It will be seen that by the above described form of the invention therehas been provided a compact, multiple pump assembly in which spacerequirements are materially reduced by disposition of the intake anddischarge conduits within the base which serves to support a pluralityof individual pumps forming a unit, as well as a drive motor connectedto a shaft common to all of the pumps, and furthermore, all of theintakes of the pumps are connected to a common intake conduit, While allof the discharge connections of the individual pumps are connected to acommon discharge conduit, such conduits being arranged in such a manneras to reduce the space required for intake and discharge pipes connectedthereto.

With particular reference to- FIG. 5, there is shown a somewhat modifiedform of the invention in which a pair of pump units 29 and 30, each unitcomprising a plurality of individual pumps 31, are mounted on the topwall 32 of an elongated, hollow base 33, the pump units 29 and 30 eachhaving a common shaft, with the shafts coupled together and supported bya suitable bearing 34 disposed between the pump units. Also mounted onthe top wall 32 of the base 33 is a common drive motor 35, the driveshaft 36 thereof being connected by a coupling 37 to the shaft 38 of thepump unit 30.

A common intake conduit 39 is disposed within the base 33, and isconnected to all of the intake openings of the individual pumps 31 inthe same manner as described above in connection with the first form ofthe invention, and the intake conduit 39 may be provided with a suitablecoupling 40 disposed exteriorly of the end wall 41 of the base 33. In asimilar manner, a common discharge conduit 42 is disposed within thebase 33, and connected to all of the discharge openings of theindividual pumps 31, and the discharge conduit 42 may be provided with asuit able coupling 43 disposed exteriorly of the side wall 44 of thebase 33, with the coupling 43 facing generally in a direction oppositeto that of the coupling 40.

With particular reference to FIG. 6, there is shown a form of theinvention alternative to the form shown in FIG. 5 and described above,and as shown in FIG. 6 there may be provided a pair of pump units .5 and46, each unit including individual rotary pumps 47, the units 45 and 46being mounted on the top wall 48 of an elongated, common base 49. Thepump unit 45 is provided with a common drive shaft, 50, while the pumpunit 46 is provided with a common drive shaft 51.

A common drive motor 52 is also mounted on the top wall 48 of the base49, between the pump units 45 and 46, and the drive motor 52 is providedwith a doubleended shaft 53 connected by means of a coupling 54 to theshaft 56 of the pump unit 45, and connected by means of a coupling 55 tothe shaft 51 of the pump unit 46.

A common intake conduit 56 is disposed Within the base 49, and isconnected to all of the intake openings of the individual pumps 47, andthe intake conduit 56 is provided with a coupling 57 disposed exteriorlyof the end wall 58 of the base 49. A common discharge conduit 59 isdisposed within the base 49, and is connected to all of the dischargeopenings of the individual pumps 47, and the discharge conduit 59 isprovided with a coupling 66 disposed exteriorly of the end wall 61 ofthe base 49 to provide a compact pump and drive assembly.

When it is desired to provide additional capacity, a plurality of pumpunits may be assembled on a common base as shown in FIG. 7, such pumpunits 62, 63, 64 and 65 each being composed of individual rotary pumps66.

The pump units 62, 63, 64 and 65 are mounted on the top wall 67 of anelongated, common base 68, and the pump units 62 and 63 are providedwith shafts coupled together and supported by an intermediate bearing69, while the pump units 64 and 65 are provided with shafts coupledtogether and supported by an intermediate bearing 76. A common drivemotor 71 is also mounted on the top wall 67 of the base 68 between theinnermost pump units 63 and 64, and the drive motor 71 is provided witha double-ended shaft 72 connected by means of a coupling 73 to the shaftof the pump unit 63, and connected by means of a coupling 74 to theshaft of the pump unit 64.

A common intake conduit 75 is disposed within the base 68, and isconnected to all of the intake openings of the pumps 66 comprising thetwo pump units 62 and 63, and a coupling 76 on the intake conduit 75 isdisposed exteriorly of the end wall 77 of the base 68. In a similarmanner, a common intake conduit 78 is disposed within the base 68, andis connected to the intake openings of all of the pumps 66 comprisingthe two pump units 64 and 65, and the intake conduit 78 is provided witha coupling 79 disposed exteriorly of the end wall 88 of the base 68.

A common discharge conduit 81 is disposed within the base 68, and isconnected to the discharge openings of all of the pumps 66 comprisingthe pump units 62 and 63, while a second discharge conduit 82 isdisposed within the base 68 and is connected to the discharge openingsof the pumps 66 comprising the pump units 64 and 65. The dischargeconduits 81 and 82 may be provided with couplings 83 and 84,respectively, disposed exteriorly of the side wall of the base 68adjacent the mid-point thereof, and the couplings 83 and 84 may connectto a common discharge pipe 86.

It will be seen that by the above described invention, including thevarious forms thereof, that there has been provided a multiple pumpassembly which may be utilized for varying capacity requirements, and inwhich relatively small, individual rotary pumps may be employed,assembled together to provide a pump unit having the required capacity,with such unit together with a common drive motor being mounted on acommon hollow base which also serves to enclose intake and dischargeconduits, thereby maintaining space requirements at a minimum. This typeof multiple pump assembly also permits the utilization of relativelysmall, individual pumps having simple, inexpensive castings and othercomponents, and furthermore, with this type of pump assembly arelatively high speed drive motor may be employed which is less costlythan a more powerful motor required for driving larger single pumpshaving the same capacity as the multiple pump assembly of thisinvention.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention, without departing from the spirit and scopethereof, and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isshown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only asindicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A multiple pump assembly comprising an elongated hollow base, a topplate on said base, said top plate having a plurality of intake openingsand a plurality of discharge openings, 21 common intake conduit disposedin said base and communicating with said intake openings, a coupling onsaid intake conduit at one end of said base, a common discharge conduitdisposed in said base and communicating with said discharge openings, acoupling on said discharge conduit adjacent one side and the oppositeend of said base, a plurality of separate, like pump casings disposed inaxial alignment, an intake fitting and a discharge fitting on eachcasing, said casing being secured to said top plate with said intakefittings communicating with said intake openings and said dischargefittings communicating with said discharge openings, whereby saidcasings are connected in parallel, a separate and like rotor in eachcasing to provide a pump unit, a common drive shaft fixed to each rotor,and a drive motor coupled to said drive shaft and secured to said topplate.

2. A multiple pump assembly comprising an elongated hollow base, a topplate on said base, said top plate having a plurality of intake openingsand a plurality of discharge openings, a common intake conduit disposedin said base and communicating with said intake openings, a commondischarge conduit disposed in said base and commuicating with saiddischarge openings, a plurality of separate like pump casings disposedin axial alignment, an intake fitting and a discharge fitting on eachcasing, said casings being secured to said top plate with said intakefittings commuicating with said intake openings and said dischargefittings communicating with said discharge openings, whereby saidcasings are connected in parallel, a separate like rotor in each casingto provide a pump unit, a common drive shaft fixed to each rotor, and adrive motor coupled to said drive shaft.

3. A multiple pump assembly as defined in claim 2, in which a pair ofsaid pump units are disposed in spaced relationship on said top plate,the drive shafts of said units being coupled together and a shaftsupport bearing between said units.

4. A multiple pump assembly as defined in claim 2, in which a pair ofsaid pump units are disposed in spaced relationship on said top plate,said motor being disposed between said units and having a double endedshaft coupled to the shafts of said units.

5. A multiple pump assembly as defined in claim 2, in which two pairs ofsaid pump units are disposed in spaced relationship on said top plate,the drive shafts of each pair being coupled together and a shaft supportbearing between each pair, said motor being disposed between adjacentunits of said pairs and having a double ended shaft coupled to theshafts of said adjacent units.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 220,108 9/79Babbitt 10387 2,054,292 9/36 Maddocks 230209 2,842,060 7/58 Barry 103-43,001,692 9/ 61 Schierl 230 FOREIGN PATENTS 495,178 10/ 19 France.

1,189,532 10/59 France.

9,789 of 1911 Great Britain.

LAURENCE V. EFNER, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT M. WALKER, Examiner.

1. A MULTIPLE PUMP ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOLLOW BASE, A TOPPLATE ON SAID BASE, SAID TOP PLATE HAVING A PLURALITY OF INTAKE OPENINGSAND A PLURALITY OF DISCHARGE OPENINGS, A COMMON INTAKE CONDUIT DISPOSEDIN SAID BASE AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID INTAKE OPENINGS, A COUPLING ONSAID INTAKE CONDUIT AT ONE EEND OF SAID BASE, A COMMON DISCHARGE CONDUITDISPOSED IN SAID BASE AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID DISCHARGE OPENINGS, ACOUPLING ON SAID DISCHARGE CONDUIT ADJACENT ONE SIDE AND THE OPPOSITEEND OF SAID BASE, A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE LIKE PUMP CASINGS DISPOSED INAXIAL ALIGNMENT, ANN IN-